ForMin Melescanu welcomes Western Balkans dialogue at Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels
Attending a Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on Monday, Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu welcomed the opportunity to discuss the Western Balkans, given the upward trend in their relationships with the EU.
"The Western Balkans discussion focused on recent developments in the region, including in the stage of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Ministers assessed the prospects for implementing the Prespa Agreement and the post-election situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging further reforms throughout the region," according to a press statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) on Monday.
Melescanu voiced Romania's assessment on the latest developments in the region and informed about the intention of the forthcoming Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union to keep the Western Balkans on the priority agenda, alongside the EU enlargement process, ensuring the advancement of the European perspective in the region based on individual progress.
Discussed at the FAC meeting were the Western Balkans, the EU-African Union co-operation, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela.
"The debates on the EU-African Union co-operation took place in preparation for a joint ministerial meeting to be held in Brussels on January 21-22, 2019. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister referred to the importance of the next meeting in terms of the implementation of the actions agreed upon at the summit in Abidjan in 2017. He voiced support for the complementariness between the new Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs, and the measures adopted in Abidjan."
An exchange of views on Ukraine analysed the context in which the recent tensions in the Black Sea near the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait had taken place following Russia's use of military force against Ukraine.
"The meeting underscored EU's firm message on the need to detente the situation, release the crews, resume navigation and respect international law and engagements. In the context, the Romanian Foreign Minister reiterated the commitment and support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as condemnation and non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea."
At the session dedicated to Iran, the foreign ministers reviewed the latest developments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as well as developments at regional and international level.
At the discussion on Venezuela, the ministers exchanged views on the international community's efforts to provide solutions to the domestic crisis, including President Nicolas Maduro starting a new term of office on January 10, 2019.
"In the morning, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister attended an informal working breakfast hosted by Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, with the participation of the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer, together with European counterparts. The focus was on the EU-ICRC cooperation amidst humanitarian crises, including Syria and Yemen."
On the side-lines of the FAC meeting, Melescanu had a bilateral meeting with Cyprus's Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to discuss issues of common interest on the European and international agenda, including Romania's priorities when holding the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Alexandru Florea, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Rodica State)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – [email protected].
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
Kelemen Hunor: Coalition, CSAT discussion, necessary in current geopolitical, international context
Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Chairman Kelemen Hunor told AGERPRES on Friday that a discussion is necessary both in the ruling coalition and in the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) not only about the annulment of the presidential election but also in the current geopolitical and international context. At the same time, the UDMR leader
EnergyMin Burduja: Romania maintains its assessment that by 2032 it will double its electricity production
Romania maintains its assessment that by 2032 it will double its electricity production and become a major energy exporter in the region, however, for this to happen, an intelligent energy transition is needed, one that uses all the country's sources and resources to generate as much energy as possible, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja wrote on his Facebook page on Frid
Romanian authorities preparing facilities for tourist visas for foreigners wishing to visit Romania (minister)
Romanian authorities are preparing facilities related to tourist visas for foreigners wishing to visit Romania, while diplomatic discussions have been held regarding commercial agreements in the tourism sector with several extremely important countries from both the European Union and beyond, Minister of Economy, Digitisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Bogdan Ivan said on
PM Ciolacu: It is a total circus for me to resign; I will not do that
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday said he does not intend to resign from his position, saying that 'it is a total circus' for that to happen, as the stake is not about him, but rather about Crin Antonescu's candidacy in the presidential election on behalf of the coalition. He was asked by the press accredited at the Victoria Palace whether
PM Ciolacu: Peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with U.S. help
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday, regarding the peace negotiations in Ukraine, that what is important are not the harsh, momentary statements of world leaders, but rather a fair and lasting peace in that country, which can only be achieved with the help of the U.S. 'I would like to respond to the most important global topic: the peace negotia
MAE: No discussions or interventions regarding any candidate or electoral process, in bilateral interactions with U.S. officials
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) on Wednesday points out that there were no discussions or interventions regarding any candidate or the electoral process in Romania during bilateral interactions with officials from the U.S. Administration. 'We have heard the public statements from some representatives of the U.S. Administration at the Munich
Code Yellow warning for freezing cold weather until Monday
The National Weather Administration (ANM) issued a Code Yellow warning for exceptionally cold weather on Wednesday, valid until next Monday for almost the entire country. According to meteorologists, in the period February 19 to 24, the weather will be exceptionally cold across most of the country, with freezing temperatures at night and in the morning. Minimu
Daniel Daianu: It is in Romania's interest, as well as of other European countries, for the EU to become more cohesive
Fiscal Council President Daniel Daianu says it is in Romania's interest, as well as that of other European countries, for the EU to become more cohesive and develop its own defense capabilities while ensuring that NATO remains strong. 'Last year, Romania allocated just over 2% of GDP to defense, while running a budget deficit of 8.64% of GDP - which, i
Interim President Ilie Bolojan leaves for Paris to participate in meeting devoted to Ukraine
Interim President Ilie Bolojan left for Paris on Wednesday morning, on a regular flight, to attend a meeting organised at the Elysee Palace, the Presidential Administration reported. Ilie Bolojan is accompanied by Presidential Advisor for European Affairs Luminita Odobescu. On Monday, leaders from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spai
Interim president Bolojan: The year 2025 will be crucial for both Romania and globally
The year 2025 will be a 'crucial' one for both our country and globally, interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan said on Tuesday, evoking 'increasingly intense, increasingly sophisticated' hybrid actions. He delivered a speech at the annual meeting of heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Romania. 'The year 2025 will b
Bolojan to foreign diplomats: Presidential election goal - to work for a free, fair, transparent electoral process
Acting President Ilie Bolojan said on Tuesday, at the annual meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Romania, that Romania is a democratic state, which continues to act to strengthen its institutions and the trust in them, and stressed that the goal in regards to the presidential election is to work for a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
Isarescu: Annual inflation rate will continue to follow generally decreasing trend throughout the year
The annual inflation rate, measured based on the consumer price indices, will continue to follow a generally decreasing trend throughout the current year, followed by a stabilisation in the upper half of the target range starting 2026, National Bank of Romania (BNR) Governor Mugur Isarescu said on Monday. 'Most certainly, what is happening now, the tension
Code Yellow for freezing cold Monday through Wednesday in 18 counties; snowfall warning in 10 counties, Bucharest
The National Weather Administration (ANM) issued new Code Yellow weather alerts for cold weather and snow, valid in 18 counties in Transylvania, Crisana, Moldavia and Maramures, as well as in ten other counties in the south, including Bucharest. According to the specialist forecast, from February 17 to 19, a Code Yellow alert affects the counties of Botosani,
Romania's economy grows 0.9% in 2024
Romania's economy grew 0.9% last year, and in the last quarter of 2024 the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 0.7% compared to the same quarter in 2023, and 0.8% compared to the previous quarter, according to estimated data (flash) the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Friday. On a seasonally adjusted series, in Q4 2024, compared to t
Annual inflation rate decreases to 4.95% in January 2025
The annual inflation rate decreased in January 2025 to 4.95%, from 5.14% in December, with food product prices having increased 4.54%, those of non-food products having gone up 4.60%, and service prices having grown 6.54%, according to data published National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Friday. 'The consumer price index in January 2025 compared to Dec